Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the AVO Seasons Spring Limited Edition 2023 is medium brown and has a couple of decently raised veins present. The seams are pretty smooth and the tapered head and foot are well finished. There are two bands, with the primary being the traditional design for the brand while the secondary band is various shades of green with some leaves in silver on the front. The aroma from the wrapper was cedar and light earth while the foot opening was a bit to small for me to get any additional notes. The pre-light draw brings cedar, earth and light spice.

First Third

The cigar begins with toasted cedar, cinnamon, floral note and light mustiness. At a half inch in, the cinnamon has transitioned to a cinnamon forward baking spice that has mellowed a bit. The retrohale is musty, toasted cedar and light floral note. At an inch and a quarter, some earth joins the profile. At an inch and a half, the baking spice is no longer cinnamon forward. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is up front with mustiness, baking spice and floral notes in the middle and light earth in the background. The strength was right at medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the profile has become slightly dry. At a half inch in, the baking spice is barely holding on. The retrohale is now musty, toasted cedar and fuller floral note. At an inch and a half in, the earth and baking spice both increase a bit. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is up front with earth right behind and then mustiness, floral notes and baking spice a bit further behind. The strength remained at medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the toast level and earth both increase. At a half inch in, the baking spice has dropped out. The retrohale is now musty, toasted cedar, earth and faint floral note. At an inch in, the earth is now even with the toasted cedar up front. As the cigar comes to a close, the profile is toasted cedar and earth even up front with mustiness in the middle and floral notes in the background. The strength remained at medium.

Burn

The burn was straight throughout, and the ash held on in two inch increments.

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar began with toasted cedar, cinnamon, floral note and light mustiness. The cinnamon transitioned to a general baking spice a bit later. Some earth joined in further along. The final third saw the baking spice depart. The construction was absolutely perfect. The AVO Seasons Spring Limited Edition 2023 had a nice start with a good combination of flavors. From the second third on though, it dropped a level as the baking spice waned and the earth increased. I really enjoyed how things began, but unfortunately, the cigar couldn’t maintain that profile and became average the rest of the way. Not a cigar I’d see myself coming back to, but I’m curious to try the other seasons that will follow this one.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.10

Cost/Point

$2.95

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: AVO Seasons Spring Limited Edition 2023